Robert Scharff

Biography

Robert Scharff is an associate professor in the Department of Human Sciences at The Ohio State University. He earned a PhD in economics from Duke University and a JD from George Mason University School of Law. Prior to his employment at Ohio State, Scharff was a regulatory economist at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Scharff’s research is focused on the economics of risk, with special emphasis on risk from consumption of food and other related products (e.g. food safety and obesity). He also is interested in the relationship between health and savings from a consumer behavior perspective. His research has been funded by USDA, the Association of Public Health Laboratories, The Produce Safety Project and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center.

Scharff serves as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Consumer Affairs and is on the editorial board of Journal of Food Protection. He enjoys teaching classes to both undergraduate and graduate students.

Education

JD, George Mason University (cum laude), 2005

PhD, Economics, Duke University, 1999

BA, Economics and Latin American Studies, George Mason University, 1990